Whistle 2 Whistle

By Michael A. Brown M.Ed.

Every athlete, parent, partner, student, teacher and coach will find something useful in the pages of this book. Whistle 2 Whistle provides effective, practical suggestions to maximize the benefits of competition and gain a competitive advantage from whistle to whistle and beyond.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499015775

Michael A. Brown M.Ed.

Michael A. Brown is a fourth-generation teacher, coach, award-winning game designer, inventor, author, speaker, volunteer, husband and father of three. Michael graduated high school with honors and was a four-sport letter winner and four-sport captain from 9th through 12th grade. In college, he played as a defensive back for the 1986 Mid-American Conference championship football team at Miami University (Ohio) and was also a member of the Redskin Track and Field team. Following his undergraduate degree, he completed his M.Ed. and continues to further his education as a student, teacher, and coach. Coach Brown lives with his wife and children in a northern suburb of Atlanta, Georgia.

Book preview

Copyright © 2014, 2020 by Michael A. Brown M.Ed.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 04/01/2020

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

622755

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WELCOME

FIRST PHILOSOPHY

MAKING THE TEAM

TRAINING AND NUTRITION

PREGAME

COMPETITION

FAILURE AND SUCCESS

POSTGAME

THE STOCK MARKET

THE OFF SEASON

PERSPECTIVE

MORE THAN WORDS

THE 8-8-8 MODEL (BALANCED DAY)

POSTURED FOR SUCCESS

IDENTITY

PURPOSE

CALL TO ACTION

ABRAHAM LINCOLN DIDN’T QUIT

THE LIGHTHOUSE SPEAKS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DEDICATION

This book arrives as a tribute to: the Hall brothers (especially Officer Dave), Rich Pine, Jim Taylor and Gary Chapp, Gary Inman, John Berube and Dave Guerreri, Ron Misch, Jack Runchey, Pat Milkovich, John Viol and Bob Byrd, Tim Rose and Terry Hoeppner, Chuck Zody, Dan Gable, John Fritz, John Smith, Tom Borrelli, Joe McFarland, Mike Clayton, Cael Sanderson, Steve Fraser and Brandon Slay… who have all significantly contributed to who I am as a person, athlete and coach.

To my greatest teachers and friends: my parents Joanne and Ken, brother Jeff, Dan Hickey, Suzanne Graves, Carol Milkovich, Jan Van Dam, Greg Clevenger, Carmen Garcia, Todd Drinkard, Curt Wright, Mark Wasvary, Jeff Barratt, Kevin Shtogrin, Clay Martin, Scott Phillipps and my Kappa Sig brothers, Scott Buffington, JC, Buddy, Jim Haskin and the ruggers of Atlanta Old White, Luis, Jason, Terrance, Jarard, Nato, Ronnie, Dennis, DJ, Chester, Funky, Jordy, Clark, Whyte-man, Vick (never forgotten) and the rest of the guys, Gregg, Richard, Jo & Steve, Len, Ronnie & Paul, Ron, Flip, Kathy, Mike, Ari, Traci and my FCS family, Andy, Clay and the Brown’s Bridge community, Joey G., Tony V., Charlie M., Paul J., Arthur & Noah, Corey, Quentin, and John, CT, Karen, Kasey, Kyle, and Kaden.

… a sincere thanks for the lessons, love and support.

Horizons are expanded by those who live on the edge.

~ Michael A. Brown ~

WELCOME

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.

~ Jimmy Johnson

Welcome LAD … Welcome my LADy. My name is Mike and I am a coach, and for the next 100 pages I will be your coach. Our time together is limited and extremely precious so let’s get started. I like the acronym LAD because it reminds me daily of what’s truly important: your L(ong-term) A(thlete) D(evelopment). I want you to be successful as a person and as an athlete, in everything you do. Whether your endeavors take you whistle to whistle, face off to buzzer, tip off to horn, hajime to matte, shi-jak to keuman, gun to finish, or Play ball! to the final out, I have written this book to help you gain a competitive advantage in sport and in life.

What’s better: Speed or Speed +1? Strength or Strength +1? Intelligence or Intelligence +1? Agility or Agility +1? Many people are good at what they do. This text is about how to be better, that little extra which changes the ordinary to extraordinary. What happens whistle to whistle is important. In fact, your performance whistle to whistle will be, more than likely, how strangers define you and how they will remember you. But there’s so much more to life than a quarter, period, goal, play or pass.

Every day presents an opportunity to better yourself and, with a healthy perspective, competition can be a valuable tool for personal growth and development. What has competition already taught you about yourself and about life? Let’s build on what you know and spend some time developing that little extra.

As your coach, my eyes are upon you, ever watching. My primary focus is on what happens from whistle to whistle … your alignment, stance and posture, first step, execution of your assignment and the impact of your play. During the game I must determine how well you are doing your job and if necessary, make adjustments. At the end of the game I grade your effort, note suggestions for improvement, and inevitably have to answer the question, Are you the right person for the position at this time? That’s my job.

Those elements are important. However, it’s also important to understand what led to your selection for the team in the first place. How is it that you came to earn your spot? Who were you before the game … and what did you do after each whistle? What value did you add to the team, both on and off the field?

As your coach, it’s important for us to get to know each other so, who are you and what are you made of?

Through triumph and tribulation, you will show me your spirit and how you think. I will structure experiences to test both, and then measure your performance against the others who would like to play your position. Each task you perform gives me a glimpse of who you are, what you believe, and what drives you. I must know if I can depend on you … if your teammates can depend on you. Do